PR-2330
November 17, 2023
2023 GCTF International Workshop on Human Rights in the Digital Age
On November 15-17, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Taiwan Ministry of Digital Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (JTEA), the Australian Office Taipei, and the Canadian Trade Office Taipei hosted the “2023 GCTF International Workshop on Human Rights in the Digital Age.”
The rapid advancement of technology is transforming nearly every aspect of daily life. Our challenge is to create a digital ecosystem that fosters innovation, delivers for our people, and respects human rights. Just as people must be able to exercise their rights to freedoms of expression, association, religion or belief, and peaceful assembly offline, they must also be able to exercise these same rights online. This GCTF workshop explored the value of promoting Internet freedom, advancing norms and safeguards for artificial intelligence (AI), countering the misuse of surveillance technology, and strengthening digital inclusion.
Held in Taipei, this three-day GCTF workshop allowed participants to exchange views on approaches to protecting human rights online. Officials from the U.S. Department of State and National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as scholars, civil society experts, and private sector representatives from Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and Canada shared their experiences and best practices. Participants also explored rights-respecting approaches to cybersecurity and data protection from experts at the Institute for Information Industry. This workshop included 37 international participants from 19 countries and more than 50 local officials and civil society leaders in Taiwan.
AIT, Taiwan MOFA, JTEA, and the Australian Office Taipei jointly administer the GCTF program, which is a capacity building platform for Taiwan to share its expertise in tackling issues of global concern.